Stringed musical instrument



Aug. 15,1950 H. M. HISE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTBUMENT 2 Shee cs-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 Aug. 15, 1950 H. M. HISE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 7 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

patented Aug. 15 1 950 UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE.

STEIN GED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Herbert M. Hise, Chicago, Ill.

Application Augustl i, 1948,, Serial No. 44,287

15 Claims; 1

This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments of the type described in the pending application of Hise and Cousineau, Serial No. 26,344, filed on May 11, 1948.

The subject musical instrument is a stringed instrument of the guitar type that is played by plucking or strumming strings tensioned between spaced bridges'as a steel is shifted longitudinally to change the effective lengths of the strings. As the tension of a string is changed, its tone or pitch is'accord'ingly altered. By varying the tensionof selected strings in varying combinations whileplaying, numerous types of chords and chord" progressions are secured without unduly i'ncreasingthe' number of strings or unduly complicati'ng. the tuning ihstrumental-ity with which they are associated; that is, the tone of the stringedinstrument may be changed from a major chord to a minor chord, a seventh chord, or an augmented chord. It may be changed a half chord, a full chord, one and one half chords and the like.

It is: an object of this invention to provide, in a stringed musical instrument of the type described, an improved tuning instrumentality by which the tension of the strings in various selected combinations may be varied while playing.

A further object is to provide a tuning instrumentality of the type described which is composed of relatively few simple parts which co-act to provide for the desired chord changes while playing without unduly increasing the number of string-s or complicating the mechanism by which the changes are effected.

A still furtherobject is toprovide an improved tuning instrument of the type described which is versatile in that initial adjustment of string tension: can be easily effected and changes of string'tension easily made for accurate selection of chords responsive to actuation of a minimum numb'erof foot pedals adapted to be operated by theplayer.

These and other. objects and advantages of this. invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitationan embodiment of the invention. is shown in the accompanying drawings. in which,-v

Eigure 1 is a: perspective view of. a guitar of the console type embodying. features of my invention;

Figure 2- is a. sectional. view taken along. the line 2.-2 of Figural;

Figure: 3:- is-a perspective-view of a cooperating pair of levers in their assembled relation by which string tension is adjusted;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along: the'li'ne l-4'of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the tuning instrunientality shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of the invention is' drawn to? a: stringed musical instrument of the guitar type wherein a horizontally disposed box-like chamber ll! is supported in spaced relation with the floor by upright legs ii that are joined transversely by a cross rod l2. The invention: may equally be incorporated in other types of stringed musical instruments otherwise supported or carried.

The box-like chamber H3 is hollow to provide resonance, and to be fully effective an opening may be provided in the upper wall immediately below the strings l3. Ordinarily a plurality of strings are provided in laterally spaced parallel relation, the strings being tensioned between spaced bridges M and i5 and anchored at their opposite ends to binding posts (not shown) and to elements of the tuning instrumentality which will hereinafter be described in greater detail. The strings are initially tuned by way of the binding posts and they may be tuned while playingby' way of? the tuning instrumentality to provide a wide variety of progressions and chord changes. When desired, a fret boardmay underlie the strings throughout a portion of their lengths disposed between the spaced bridges.

The tuning instrumentality by which the strings l3 are anchored is arranged at one end of the instrument beyond the bridge l5, andordinarily it is concealed by a cover plate Hi. The instrumentality includes a rectangular housing or bracket I! open at each end. The housing I! seats in a suitable opening provided through the box-like chamber ii and it is provided. with outwardly extending flanges l8 and i9: integral with the upper end of the bracket. The flanges which rest upon the face of the upper wall 20 of. the box-like chamber [8 are fixed in this relation by suitable'means, such as insertable through screw threaded openings 2! provided in the flanges.

A plurality of vertically disposed grooves 22 are provided on the inner face of each of the side walls 23 and 2 of the bracket ii, opposed pairs of which receive rectangularyokes 25'slidable: vertically between two'positions of adjustment relative to the housing IT. Each yoke 25 isconstantly urged to' its upper or normal position of adjustment. As illustrated, the means for urging the yokes toward their normal position of adjustment may comprise coil springs 26 that bear against the under side of each yoke 25, two coil springs being provided for equalization purposes. One end of each spring is seated in notches 2'! in the lateral end portions of the yoke, while the other end of each spring bears against a plate 23 secured to the underside of the housing by screws 29 and having a lip 28 struck upwardly to define a seat for the coil spring.

An inverted T-member 30 is fixed to the underside and intermediate the ends of the lower cross member 3| of each yoke 25. The shank or stem portion 39 extends through an opening provided in the plate 28 whereby the corresponding yoke is stopped in its upper position of adjustment upon engagement of the cross arm 38 of the T-member with the underside of the plate 28. An adjustable screw 32 operative in the plate 28 limits the downward movement of the yoke 25 to determine its lower position of adjustment. A flexible shaft 33 in the form of a wire, rod or cord connects the T-member with one end of a rocker arm 34 which is operated by one of the foot pedals 35. It will be manifest that the use of a T-member rigidly connected to the central portion of a yoke and slidable through a stationary plate which may serve as a bearing member, better control of movements and better performance will be achieved, however, other connections may be used between the rocker arms and the respective yokes. In the manner duscribed in the pending application previously pointed out, the number of rocker arms 34 corresponds to the number of foot pedals 35, and. each end of the rocker arm may be connected to separate yokes 25 and therefore, the four foot pedals may be used to operate eight yokes.

The upper cross member 35 of each yoke is provided with a plurality of laterally spaced vertical screw threaded openings 3'! adapted to receive threaded adjusting pins 33 having knurled heads 39 to facilitate turning movement. By rotating the pins 38 in one direction or the other, the length by which the lower end of the pin extends below the cross member 35 may be.

adjusted. The number of screw threaded open ings 3? will correspond to the number of lever arms 49 arranged therebelow in the arrangement to be described.

The lever arms 4!! are each separately pivoted on a common horizontally disposed axis 4! carried by the bracket Ii in a position forwardly of the foremost yoke 25 and they extend rearwardly beyond the pivot A! to underlie each of the upper cross members 33 of the yokes 25. The lever arms are arranged in pairs, with each arm 48 and 48 that make up a pair operatively engaging one string. In the illustrated embodiment, there are eight strings, and therefore, the tuning instrumentality includes eight yokes 25, sixteen lever arms and sixteen screw threaded openings 31 in each cross member 36.

The lever arms te and de in each pair are like the corresponding lever arms in the other pairs, and therefore, description to one pair should sufiice for all. One lever arm 43 hereinafter called the first lever arm or tensioning arm, has an enlarged hub section 52 on the end concentric with the axis 5!. A longitudinal opening extends through the upper portion of the hub section from a notch 33 in the front to a cut-out portion at in the rear, and periphery of the hub section between the notched and cutout portions is grooved. The other or second lever arm has an upwardly and forwardly inclined extension G5 which carries a grooved roller 46 on a horizontally disposed pin 4'! extending laterally from a stub 41 carried on the end of the extension 45. The lever arms 10 and 48* are constantly urged upwardly to engage the under side of stop rod 48 extending transversely between the walls 23 and 2 3 and which defines the upper position of adjustment of the lever arms 40 and Gil. Tension inherent in the assembly serves constantly to urge the lever arm te toward its upper position of adjustment, while it may be necessary to provide spring means, such as the tension spring d9 connected at one end to the extension 45.

In the assembly, a string !3 having an eyelet 53 in the end is threaded rearwardly through the opening in the hub section d2 until it is stopped because the eyelet is unable to pass through the opening. Thereafter the string is drawn forwardly over the hub section and then under the roller 45, over a roller 5! carried by the bridge l5 and across the spaced bridge Hi. The free end of the string is is then threaded throu h the binding post upon which the string is wound until tensioned to initial tune. As the string becomes tensioned, the operating forces tend to cause the lever arm 48 to swing in the counterclockwise direction whereby the lever arm is brought into the desired engagement with the stop 18.

In the assembled relation, it will be manifest that the end of the string I3 is anchored to the lever arm 49 and is arranged thereon in a manner which causes tensioning of the string as the lever arm 50 is rocked downwardly upon engagement with the adjustable screws as the corresponding yoke is actuated toward its lower position of adjustment responsive to foot pedal operation. The degree of tensiomng will correspond to the adjustment of the screws 38. The roller 46 on the second lever arm 40 is aligned with the grooved portion on the hub 42, and it engages the spring I3 intermediate the anchored end and the bridge l5 to deflect the string from its normal path. Thus, as the second lever arm 40 is rocked downwardly, string tension will be relaxed.

From the description, the operation of my tuning instrumentality will be obvious.

Each cross member 36 is provided with one or more pins 33 arranged through selected openings 3'? to engage selected lever arms. As a foot pedal 35 is rocked in one direction, the yoke 25 operatively connected therewith through the rocker arm 34 is actuated to its lower position of adjustment. As this occurs, those lever arms du or 3G engaged by the pins 38 carried by the cross member 36 of the yoke 25 actuated are simultaneously rocked to their lower position of adjustment, thereby to increase the tension of the strings in the event that the engaged lever arm is of the type 48 or to decrease the tension of the strings associated with actuated lever arms of the type 46 As the foot pedal is returned to its normal position, coil springs 26 return the yoke 25 to its normal positions of as justment, enabling the actuated lever arms to return to their normally raised position. As the selected foot pedal or other foot pedals are rocked in the opposite direction, the yoke or yokes connected with the other end of the rocker arm or rocker arms are actuated to their lower positions of adjustment. Thus, by proper arrangement and adjustment of the pins 38, one or more of which extend through the respective cross members" to:- engage: one: or. more lever arms. 40 and MW at the same time-,. and. by. propermanipulation or. the foot' pedals 35; numerous chord changes of: varying: scope can be: made while playing.

It. will; be: understood. that the number 01701)- erative members are not limitedito the amounts described but their number may. be increased or decreased to conform. with: the requirements: of theinstrument. Description has been made to specific means. for actuating. thei yokes in accordancewith the system: describedin thepending. application; however, the invention isnot limited to: that system, as othermeans for actuatingithe yokes maybe employed- It will: be further? understood that numerous changesmay-bemade in thedet'ails of construction, arrangement and operation without-departing from the'spirit of. the invention, especially as defined in the followingclaims.

What I claim'is:

l In a stringed musical instrument havinga plurality of strings tensioned between spaced bridges, each st'r-ing having a first lever arm'erockable between normal and operated position of adjustmentand anchoring one end of the string in a manner to increase string tension as it is rocked to one position of adjustment and to decrease string tension as itis rocked to the other position of adjustment, each string also having a second lever arm rockable between-normal and operated positions of adjustment and having an offset that engages the string to decrease strong tension as it isrocked to one position of adjustment andto increase string tension as it is rocked to the other position of adjustment, means constantly urging each of the lever arms to its normal position of adjustment, and an operative connection responsive to externally applied force for selectively rocking the lever arms to their operated position of adjustment.

2. In a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings tensioned over spaced bridges, pairs of first and second lever arms for each string rockable about a common pivot between two positions of adjustment, the first lever arm anchoring the corresponding string which is threaded thereon in a manner to cause further tensioning of the string as the lever arm is rocked in one direction and relaxation of tension as the lever arm is rocked in the other direction, an extension on the second lever arm which engages the string intermediate the anchor and adjacent bridge whereby string tension is increased or decreased responsive to rocking movement in the direction opposite that for efiecting like results with the first lever arm, means constantly urging the lever arms to one position of adjustment, and means for actuating selected lever arms to the other position of adjustment responsive to the application of external forces while playing.

3. A stringed musical instrument as claimed in claim 2 in which the first lever arm is urged to its first position of adjustment by reaction of the tensioned string and spring means constantly operate on the second lever arm to urge the same to its first position of adjustment.

4. In a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings tensioned over spaced bridges, pairs of first and second lever arms for each string rockable about a common pivot between two positions of adjustment, the first lever arm anchoring the corresponding string which is threaded thereon in a manner to cause further tensioningz'oi' the stringias the leverrarm is rdcked in one. direction and: relaxation of tension. as the: lever arm is rocked in. the: other: direction, an extension on: the second: lever arm which engagesthe string intermediate the anchor: and adjacent bridge: whereby string; tension isincreased or decreased? responsive: to rocki'ngt movement: in the: direction opposite. that: for. effecting like. results with. the first lever arm, means constantly urging the. lever arms to one. position of adjustment, one or. more rigid members. ex tending transversely across: the. lever" arms between two;- positions of adjustment. means constantly; urging the members: toward: one position of adjustment, means carried by each: memher for. engaging: selected lever arms during. movement' of the:- member" to the other position. of adjustment, andl means for. actuating selected members to the other: position of adjustment V responsive to operation by the rplayer whereby the engaged: lever. arms are actuated to: their other position of: adjustment.

5'. In a stringed musical. instrument having a plurality of strings tensioned over spaced: bridges, pairs. on first. and: second. lever arms. for each string: rockable. about. a common: pivot. between two positions. of adjustment, the: first lever arm anchoring the corresponding; string which is threaded: thereon in a manner: to. cause. further tensioning of thelstring asithe'lever arm isroclred in one direction: and: relaxation of. tension: as: the lever arm is. rocked. ini the: other direction, an extension on the second! lever arm which engaged the string. intermediate the anchor and adjacent bridge: whereby; string tension: is increased or. decreased" responsive to? rocking. movement in the direction opposite that for effecting like results with the first lever arm, means constantly urging the lever arms to one position of adjustment, a plurality of members extending transversely across the lever arms and shiftable between two positions of adjustment relative to the lever arms, means constantly urging the members to one position of adjustment, adjustable means carried by the members for engaging selected lever arms when the corresponding member is shifted to the other position of adjustment whereby the engaged lever arms are rocked to their other position of adjustment, and means for actuating selected members to the other position of adjustment responsive to operation from an external source.

6. A stringed musical instrument as claimed in claim 5 in which the members comprise longitudinally spaced yokes slidable vertically in the instrument frame, and the means constantly urging the yokes to a normal position of adjustment comprises coil springs fastened between the yokes and the frame.

'7. A stringed musical instrument as claimed in claim 5 in which the actuating means comprises foot pedals are provided for operation by the player while playing, and operative connections between the foot pedals and the members whereby selected members are actuated to the other position of adjustment responsive to the operation of the pedals.

8. An instrument as claimed in claim 1 in which a stop is provided to determine the normal position of adjustment for each lever arm.

9. An instrument as claimed in claim 1 in which the operative connection responsive to externally applied forces for rocking selected lever arms to their operated position of adjustment comprises frame members extending transversely across the arms and shiftable relative .to the arms to operative and inoperative positionsof adjustment, and means responsive to externally applied force for actuating selected frame members to the operative position of adjustment.

10. A musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 in which a stop is provided to determine the inoperative adjustment for the frame members, and spring means for constantly urging said frame members individually toward their inoperative position of adjustment.

11. A musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 in which fingers are provided in each frame member to engage selected arms as the corresponding frame member is actuated to its operative position of adjustment, said fingers being adjustable to rock the engaged arms to operated position of adjustment responsive to actuation of the respective frame member to its operative position of adjustment.

12. A musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 in which an adjustable stop is provided for each frame member to determine its operative position of adjustment. 3

13. A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 L in which spring means are employed constantly to urge the second lever arm to its normal position of adjustment.

14. A musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 in which when the arms are rocked from their normal position to their operated position the first lever arm operates to tension the corresponding string and the second lever armoperates to slacken the tension in the engaged string.

15. In a stringed musical instrument havin a plurality of strings tensioned over spaced bridges, pairs of first the second lever arm which engages the string whereby string tension is increased or decreased responsive to rocking movement in the direction opposite that for efiecting like results with the first lever arm, means constantly urging the lever arms to one position of adjustment, one or more rigid members extending transversely across the lever arms between two positions of adjustment, means constantly urging the members toward one position of adjustment, means carried by each member for engaging selected lever arms during movement of the member to the other position of adjustment, and means for actuating selected members to the other position of adjustment responsive to operation by the player whereby the engaged lever arms are actuated to their other position of adjustment.

HERBERT M. HISE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,396 Freeman July 5, 1938 2,234,874 Moore Mar. 11, 1941 2,257,995 Abrams et a1. Oct. 7, 1941 

